Body complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On June 7, 2025, I was a passenger in a 2025 Tesla 3. Driver of Tesla made an unsafe lane change coming off an Interstate and my side was struck almost T-bone style by an oncoming vehicle going between 45-55mph. Our seatbelts did not lock us in place causing the driver to hit his head on steering wheel and then on driver side window causing lacerations and possible concussion. My side tool the impact and no side curtain airbags deployed and neither did the dash airbags. I am concerned that the location and speed with which we were hit could have been much worse up to and including death as the airbags did not deploy nor seatbelts firmly lock us in place. The car was deemed a total loss and all 4 panels on passengers side were impacted in the collision. I have pictures, Tesla video, police report I can provide. I want this looked into for defect of the Tesla sensors. …
On April 23, 2025, at approximately 8:15 PM, I activated Tesla's Smart Summon feature to retrieve my vehicle from a parking spot. While operating autonomously under Smart Summon, the vehicle failed to detect a pole in the parking area and drove into it, causing approximately $11,000 in damage to the vehicle. I was not inside or manually controlling the vehicle at the time. The vehicle's autonomous driving software failed to identify and avoid a stationary obstacle.
Client left the road and the vehicle hit a tree by the roadside. The vehicle caught fire and client was incapacitated and unable to operate the door handle from the inside or unlock the doors. Bystanders attempted to open all four doors from the outside, but they were all locked. Bystanders noted that the handles themselves were functional and believe it was an electrical issue keeping the doors locked. Bystanders broke the windows and attempted to open the doors from the inside, but they were unable to access the emergency door release because the driver door panel was on fire in proximity to the emergency release. Bystanders began mechanically disassembling the door to get him out and he was eventually extracted by the fire rescue team. …
I am writing to report an accident involving my son who was driving Tesla 2024 Model-3 on July 18th 2026 approximately 10:15 AM EST. He was returning home from his volunteering with Emergency medical Service(EMS) when the vehicle's steering wheel suddenly froze. while attempting to maneuver the vehicle to safe location , it collided with a roadside barrier. fortunately , my son was not injured , but the vehicle sustained significant damage, including deployment of airbag and damage to front passenger side. this incident occurred at a speed of approximately 26 MPH
A fatal crash occurred involving a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The vehicle departed the roadway, impacted a guardrail, struck a utility pole on the driver's side, rolled down an embankment, and came to rest upright. The crash resulted in catastrophic intrusion into the driver's compartment and a fatal injury to the driver. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the crashworthiness and occupant protection performance of this vehicle, including the structural integrity of the occupant compartment, airbag deployment and effectiveness, and the performance of any advanced driver assistance systems, including collision warnings and automatic emergency braking. …
On June 4th I was in a hurry to get to work, pushed open my car door and started to slide in at which point the door unexpectedly to me swung back shut, clamping my head behind my ear pressing it against the top of the door frame. Everything stuck for about 1 second and then the door released my head. I am concerned that the door shouldn't close so forcefully and should not bounce back closed when pushed open; that perhaps this contributed to the dangerous situation? There were other factors such as my car parking pad is slightly sloped. It seems this is an issue with the design of the car as opposed to a defect as there are no warning lights or recalls. I am still trying to figure out the effects of this injury. I have been to two doctors- not immediately because at first there were no immediate effects except for the discomfort of the pressure at the time. …
Dear NHTSA, I am filing a formal complaint regarding Tesla's refusal to properly address a critical safety recall on my vehicle (Recall Number 24V554). This recall involves a significant safety issue that Tesla is legally obligated to remedy free of charge under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The required over-the-air software update associated with this recall repeatedly fails to install, getting stuck at 50% completion. I scheduled a service appointment and took the vehicle to Tesla for assistance. However, Tesla informed me that they will not diagnose the issue or investigate why their software update fails to install unless I agree to pay $255.00 for a general diagnosis. Additionally, they require me to pre-approve a total of $2,658.28, including the diagnostic fee, in case the computer needs to be replaced. …
The 2022 Model 3 Tesla does not have readily available emergency rear door release. Tesla's automated response to me was to locate the bolts and screws on the underside of the door armrest, then I need to remove the bolts and screw. Once that is done I can then remove the panel under the armrest so I can then reach inside and pull on the manual release cable. This could not be done during an emergency, you would need to have tools and in an emergency people panic and they would have to do everything by feel if they are trapped in the backseat of the Model 3 Tesla. This is a life safety hazard and needs to be addressed by Tesla to provide a fix that will allow easy access and not require tools to open the door if there is no power to the door release. This needs to investigated and corrective actions taken to make Tesla comply with changes for safety.
NHTSA investigations
Emergency egress controls are not readily accessible and clearly identifiable.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has completed its review of a defect petition received on November 24, 2025, requesting an investigation into the emergency mechanical door release in 2022 Model Year (MY) Tesla Model 3. The petition alleges that the controls for the emergency mechanical door release are not accessible and clearly identifiable and thus fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
Frequently asked questions
Which Tesla Model 3 years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2018 (60), 2019 (23), 2023 (22), 2020 (19) and 2021 (17) model years. Body complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2018.
Is there a recall for Tesla Model 3 body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for any Tesla Model 3 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Tesla Model 3 body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 15,000 miles; 86% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (152 mentions), followed by the body › door › handle › exterior (4).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.